Convert crew cab to have rear A/C?

[da_raabi]

So I've been working up to installing A/C back in my truck. It's a 1986 crew cab with factory air.

I'm curious how the suburbans t-off the freon lines for the rear air unit. Does the unit always get coolant run through it if the compressor is running? Any pics of how this works?

The reason I ask is because I am looking into possibly hanging an overhead A/C unit off of a first-generation Dodge Durango from the roof to provide A/C to the back seat:

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If I could fab up a way to hang this assembly from the roof, would it be possible to t-in the overhead evap core the way the suburbans do it?

My thought would be to provide direct A/C to the back seat.

Ideas?

Thoughts?

 

[PBALLARD]

How does the front unit work cooling the whole cabin area? In the big trucks that have two units they run parallel to each other with dual expansion valves. I would think the front unit if designed to cool the entire cab should be enough - have you gone thru it to make sure it is operating at optimum performance?
nice idea if you can finish the interior to look stock

 

[bucket]

Does that unit include an expansion valve?

Burb rear AC lines just tee off of the front lines. So if you get the correct underhood lines from a Burb, you can combine the two with some custom AC hoses. They would need to run up the B-pillar area to the roof. Is there enough room for that?

 

[yevgenievich]

Lines do just t off. But it only works if rear unit has expansion valve. Get burb lines for front and durango lines in rear then have a local shop but a hose in between. I have a burb liquid line for sale if needed and can include a piece that mated to it. Just a matter of connecting a hose. $20 charge from our local hose shop

 

[yevgenievich]

Pictures

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[Goldie Driver]

I figured someone would beat me to it, but some more pics - just in case.

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[CorvairGeek]

Just make sure you use anything but an R4 compressor.

 

[da_raabi]

I did a little more research on this, and came upon a great post where someone was adding this rear-air system to a durango that did not originally come with it. Great info/pics.

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen-durango/340124-diy-adding-overhead-a-c-w-pictures.html

It appears that the expansion valve for this unit is mounted under the vehicle, just before the a/c pipes head up the b-pillar. I think my idea miiiiggghhhttt..... work if I can source all of the correct parts from the expansion valve back, as well as source the suburban T fittings for under the hood. I believe all I would need to do at that point is add a custom set of hoses to get the 2 lines from the burb Ts to the durango expansion valves.

Expansion valve is the box thing at the top of the pic, then you can see the lines heading up the b pillar

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